Alex Wood

2017 Recap

The 2017 Dodgers were a few Yu Darvish tipped pitches away from winning a title.

For the first time since 1988, the Los Angeles Dodgers won the NL Pennant. Unfortunately for them, the season did not end as they hoped, as they lost to the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the World Series. Their 104 regular season wins was tied for the second-most in the franchise’s history, which dates all the way back to 1884.

Los Angeles was the clear-cut, best team in the National League. Their pitching staff finished first in the NL in ERA, strikeouts, BAA, and walks. Of course, they were led by one of the best left handed pitchers of all-time, Clayton Kershaw. Although he missed time because of back tightness, the 3x Cy Young award winner finished tied for the league-lead in wins with 18. Kershaw also ranked second in ERA and BB/9, sixth in FIP, seventh in H/9, and ninth in SO/9.

Budding superstar, Cody Bellinger (LA Times)

Los Angeles’ bullpen led the NL with a 3.38 ERA, and finished first in the MLB in opponent OBP. Kenley Jansen finished second in the league with 41 saves, while Josh Fields and Pedro Baez each appeared in over 55 games and finished with sub 3.00 ERAs.

The Dodgers offense, which finished third in the NL in OBP, was led by some notable names, but also some surprises. Justin Turner, who was designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles, and hit .265 in 301 games for the Mets, finished eighth in NL MVP voting, and was named to his first All-Star team. Turner finished fourth in OBP, fifth in batting average, and eighth in adjusted OPS+. Since becoming a member of the Dodgers, Turner has turned into a superstar.

Speaking of superstars, the Dodgers have a budding one in Cody Bellinger. Bellinger was called up in Late-April, and finished the season with 39 home runs, which was sixth-best in the MLB. His slugging percentage ranked 10th overall, and he joined Mel Ott and Eddie Matthews as the only players under the age of 22 to hit at least 39 home runs, with a .350 OBP and .580 SLG.

Corey Seager cemented himself as the top shortstop in the NL. In 2017, he joined Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Correa, and Cal Ripken, as the only shortstops, under the age of 24, to hit 22 home runs with a .370 OBP and 5.5 WAR.

Chris Taylor, who did even make the Opening Day roster, led the team in doubles with 34. He slashed .288/.354/.496, and was named NLCS MVP (with Justin Turner) after hitting .316 with a pair of home runs and five runs scored.

2018: Around the Diamond

It’s no surprise that the Dodgers have the best odds out of any NL team to reach the World Series in 2018. Cody Bellinger will be at first for a full season, and Seager is a serious MVP candidate at short. However, they will have to start the season without Justin Turner, after the third basemen was hit by a pitch and broke his wrist on Monday. The most likely candidate to hold down the hot corner while Turner is out would be Logan Forsythe. This means Chase Utley will probably get some starts at second.

The Dodgers will begin the season without star third basemen, Justin Turner (LA Times)

Behind the plate will be Austin Barnes and Yasmani Grandal. Grandal, a fantastic defensive catcher, hit 22 home runs in 2017, but lost a good chunk of playing time to Austin Barnes during the postseason. Barnes finished 2017 with a .408 OBP.

In 2017, Los Angeles started 12 different players in left field. With Chris Taylor starting in center, Matt Kemp, Joc Pederson, Enrique Hernandez, Trayce Thompson, Andrew Toles, and Alex Verdugo will all battle for that corner outfield spot. Kemp, who spent his first nine seasons with the Dodgers, has hit .317 with four home runs and eight RBIs in 15 Spring games.

One of the most polarized players in the game, right fielder Yasiel Puig, will look to build off his sold 2017. After injuries and demotions derailed his 2015 and 2016 seasons, Puig played 152 games last year, and hit 28 home runs with 15 steals. His 11.2 percent walk rate was the highest of his big-league career.

On the Bump

Both Yu Darvish and Brandon Morrow signed as free agents with the Cubs. Still, a rotation led by Kershaw is one that will find ways to thrive. Following Kersh, will be Alex Wood, who finished third in WHIP and 10th in wins, Rich Hill, who posted a 3.32 ERA in 135.2 innings, Kenta Maeda, and Hyun-Jin Ryu. All five of these guys spent time on the DL last season, but are ready to go.

There is no reason to think the Dodgers bullpen will not be among the best in baseball. They traded for Scott Alexander, who was great for Kansas City in 2017, and, of course, they still have guys like Josh Fields, Pedro Baez, Ross Stripling, and Tony Cingrani, to make sure Kenley Jansen comes into the game with a lead.

The Future

Walker Buehler (No.12) is the highest rated Dodgers prospect on MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospect’s list. Buehler, a right-handed pitcher, pitched a little bit out of the bullpen for the Dodgers in 2017. While his control wasn’t great in 2017, he still looks like a top-of-the-rotation type starter.

Alex Verdugo (No.33), who was mentioned earlier in the left field chatter, is hitting .324 with two home runs and six RBIs so far this spring. He had a solid 2017 season in AAA, hitting .314 with an OPS of .825. However, Matt Kemp and Andrew Toles appear to be ahead of him on the depth chart, so look for Verdugo to develop more in AAA.

Los Angeles also has the third best catching prospect, Keibert Ruiz (N0. 52). Ruiz hits for a good average, hitting .315 in 101 games between A/A+, and has good speed for a catcher. He needs to develop more defensively, but could be the catcher of the future in Los Angeles.

2018 Prediction: 95-67

There is a reason why the Dodgers are the NL favorite to reach the World Series in 2018. When Turner comes back, this will be one of the best teams in baseball. As long as the squad stays healthy down the stretch, Los Angeles should, again, be right in the mix for a World Series title.

Featured image by MLB.com

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Coming off of a thrilling game two in Los Angeles, the Astros are going to look to carry their momentum through their time in Houston. An offense that was shut down by Kershaw and the Dodgers in game one really turned things around by exploding for four home runs and taking an epic game away from Los Angeles.

Houston’s offense is back

Altuve and Correa have kept Houston in the thick of things (LA Daily News)

The Astros offense has had cold stretches this postseason. During the ALCS, Houston was only able to score nine runs in the first five games. There was reason to be worried after game one of the World Series as well, when they only had one run on three hits off of Clayton Kershaw.

Houston was somehow able to prove in game two that Kenley Jansen is touchable after slumping for a bit. Jansen was one of the most successful closers in the regular season, only blowing one save and giving up just five home runs. Marwin Gonzalez’s home run off an 0-2 count against Jansen in the ninth may be a point we look back at and say that is when the Astros took over.

Each of the Astros big three (Springer, Altuve and Correa) proved why they should be feared in game two. They are going to look to ride that feeling in Houston in order to get ahead of Los Angeles. The Dodgers pitching may still be a cause for concern though.

The Dodgers pitching is still dominate

Kershaw may have had his best postseason performance in game one (Photo by Washington Times)

What Houston still has to look forward to is facing Yu Darvish in game three. This is an interesting matchup considering Darvish pitched in the same division as the Astros since 2012. Darvish has had Houston’s number, as a collective they have a .190 batting average against the Dodgers summer acquisition.

The one hitter to keep an eye on is George Springer. Springer is 6-18 against Darvish in his career, and two of those hits have gone for home runs. Other than Springer though, the Astros have looked lack luster against Darvish.

Game three will be a very important game for the Astros especially. Although Alex Wood is currently tabbed as the starter for the Dodgers in game four, there is still a chance that Kershaw could make the start if they lose game two. Although Kershaw could have probably pitched all the way through game one, Dave Roberts made the right call by pulling him after seven innings. Keeping Kershaw’s pitch count low gives the Dodgers the opportunity to use him in game four if need be. That way, if the series goes to seven games Kershaw can start the final game with decent rest.

Who has the edge?

The Astros will be pitching Lance McCullers Jr. and Charlie Morton over the weekend. Both only have limited exposure to the Dodgers, but in that limited exposure the Dodgers have had their number. A.J. Hinch may be looking to go to his bullpen early in games three and four in Houston.

The Los Angeles offense has looked on point this whole postseason. Even without their star shortstop in the NLCS, they still managed to put up some crooked numbers against the Cubs. They weren’t able to beat the Astros on Wednesday night, but that was more on the bullpen rather than any inability by the offense.

After George Springer’s thrilling go-ahead home run in Los Angeles in game two, it is hard to bet against the Astors for the rest of this series. It will be a tough fought battle the whole way through. However, the Dodgers bullpen will most likely not unfoil as much as it did. It is October, so anything can happen. It is hard to see them giving up two leads like that again though.

Based on performance this postseason, the Dodgers have the edge on their pitching staff as well as their offense. On paper Houston may have the sexier lineup with Springer, Altuve and Correa. Los Angeles has remained consistent through the postseason though, and with Kershaw most likely getting two more starts in the World Series it will be difficult for Houston to get past them. The series will most likely go back to California, but the Dodgers should be favored to take home the Commissioner’s trophy in the end.

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Chicago Cubs vs Cleveland Indians

Cleveland is looking for redemption after their skid in the 2016 World Series (ABC Chicago)

A rematch of the 2016 World Series is on the eyes of many. Last year was one of the most successful World Series of the century in terms of viewership. The narrative of the two teams and their droughts captured the hearts of America.

The series went to extra innings in game seven, and the Indians are surely looking to redeem themselves after giving the title to the Cubs. Cleveland had a 3-1 game lead and were not able to end their drought.

The Indians look like the better and more complete team this year with all the inconsistencies that Chicago has been dealing with. Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor look stronger than ever and would be difficult to stop.

New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Dodgers

We all know the networks are pulling for this one. The two largest markets in the country battling it out in October may be what the league needs to keep the World Series ratings on pace with last year. A rematch between the Cubs and Indians is enticing, but it may not have quite the same sparkle to it as this match up of two iconic teams.

Not only will the markets be battling it out, but the two rookie sensations in Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger would be highlighted. Both of these young stars broke home run records that were thought to be near impossible to break. Both teams have well-rounded hitting and would make for a long series.

The Yankees have had much more success out of these two titans of baseball. The Dodgers have a drought they are looking to break of not going to the World Series in 20 years. A Dodgers-Yankees World Series would make for a great final hurdle for LA to get over in order to win the series.

Houston Astros vs Los Angels Dodgers

Cleveland may have ended up with one more win than Houston, but the Astros and Dodgers were the two teams that had a stronghold as the best two teams in the majors for most of the year. The Astros have the hitting edge with their three headed monster of Correa, Altuve, and Springer. However, the Dodgers have the pitching edge with Kershaw, Wood, and Hill. Not to mention Kenley Jansen, who was one of the best closers in baseball this year.

This would be the superstar match up that many would have predicted in June. Things have changed since then, but they are still 100+ win teams that are not messing around. Both teams are hungry for a World Series title. The TV networks would love this as well as Houston is looking for a win after Hurricane Harvey. A Fall Classic in Houston would bring life to a city that needs it.

Washington Nationals vs Houston Astros

Bryce Harper is looking to prove the Nationals can play in the postseason (Sports Illustrated)

The last few years we have been talking about World Series droughts. The Cubs broke their 100+ year losing streak last fall, and the Indians are prime candidates to break their drought that goes back to 1948. However, the Astros have never won a Fall Classic, and the Nationals have never even been to one!

The Nationals (formally Montreal Expos) have only been around since 1969, and the Astros were founded in 1962. They reached their first and only World Series in 2005 when they lost to the Chicago White Sox.

So who wouldn’t want to see two teams duke it out for the right to bring the title to their hometown for the first time (excluding the 1924 Washington Senators)?

Cubs vs Red Sox

A rematch of the 1918 World Series, would feature two baseball teams that have the most historic World Series droughts in the game. Both were lead by Theo Epstein, who is probably the best executive we have seen this generation. This match up would be centered around the history behind these two teams as well as the connection with Theo.

Boston and Chicago played at similar levels this season, with a little bit of edge given to Boston. The Red Sox have a solid pitching staff centered around Chris Sale and their stud closer Craig Kimbrel. The Red Sox have their own version of Andrew Miller now as well with David Price. It will be interesting to see how he is worked into a World Series.

Another intriguing similarity between the two teams is Jon Lester and John Lackey. That is just one other connection between these two teams that seems to be endless. If these two teams had met in the Fall Classic 15 years ago, it would be a whole other level of excitement. Now that they have both broken their streaks now, it doesn’t have the same pop. However, it would not be surprising for this match up to keep those ratings on par with 2016.

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Washington Nationals

This team could do exactly what it has been doing and it would stay in first place. The Nationals have a 11.5-game lead going into Tuesday night’s games and Hotlanta would need a miracle to catch up.

The problem in our nation’s capital has not been getting to the playoffs, but getting to the World Series. With that in mind they still desperately need bullpen help.

The Nationals made a deal to get Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson from the A’s about a week ago. This has obviously been a great upgrade for them but they still could use at least one more rock solid piece to give them the best chance in October.

In steps, no not Brad Hand (Padres want way too much for him), A.J. Ramos. The Marlins have not been able to put it together for the last two years and their team is up for sale in two different ways (let us pray that the baseball gods will rid the MLB of Jeffery Loria).

Courtesy of: Faketeams.com

A.J. Ramos is a hot target, but from it sounds like he is not as expensive as other relievers like Hand and the Reds’ Raisel Iglesias are. He is also having a down year compared to his normal for his career, so he may end up costing even less than he would have last year.

As far as his contract goes, he is still owed some of his $6.5 million and is arbitration eligible next year. So, he has some team control but would could cost a bit more next year.

Taking this all into consideration, the Nationals need to try to make this deal. Their farm system is weaker due to the deals they have already done in the last year. But most people are hearing that they will not give up top prospect Victor Robles.

Right now most of the top Marlins top prospects are pitchers and outfielders so it is likely that they would like some infielders to go along with them or just more pitching.

I can see the trade being A.J. Ramos to the Nationals for Carter Kieboom (SS), Drew Ward (3B) and a hard throwing pitching prospect outside of the Nationals top 30 prospects. While this may seem like a lot, let’s look back at what Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman cost last year. Relievers are valued very highly (overpriced in my opinion) but at least three prospects seems to be the standard for closers and other top tier bullpen pieces.

Milwaukee Brewers

Courtesy of: Nolanwritin.com

Raise your hand if you picked the Brewers to be in first place in July. No one? Yeah, me neither. This team has played well and some of their pieces are melding together very well. Some players may be a bit of a fluke, but overall their young players are really looking solid. The problem is that they are in the same division as the Cubs.

The Brewers should actually sell. It sounds crazy, but they are doing well and have an amazing farm system to boot. They won’t go far in the playoffs this year so it doesn’t make sense to trade away strong assets for rentals.

That said, this is a piece about staying in first place and if they want any chance at holding off the Cubs, then they will have to make a move.

Their biggest weakness is their starting pitching. While some of them have good records such as Zach Davies at 11-4, only Chase Andreson has an ERA below 3.45. There are some good options out there, and if the Brewers can get someone for the right price, then they will make the trade. This means staying out of what will probably be a bidding war for Sonny Gray.

While his ERA might not be exactly what they are looking for, he does provide experience and a lively arm. Andrew Cashner would be a relatively cheap rental and a player that most have forgotten was a big trading chip for the last few years. It also helps that everyone else will be focused on Yu Darvish and Sonny Gray.

Marcos Diplan (RHP) and a player to be named later would get this deal done. The Brewers would take on the rest of his salary which is not cheap, but they would not be giving up much in terms of prospects. Cashner would appease those who want the Brewers to make a move and would slot in well as another solid veteran along side Matt Garza.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs may not be in first place, but they are just a half game out.

Photo: Athelticsnation.com

The Cubs are the defending World Series champs and until recently they have not been playing like it. Luckily they are in a very weak central division (sorry Brewers fans). They also already made a big trade getting Jose Quintana and at this point their farm system is depleted.

Considering all of that it, seems like the Cubs will do whatever they have to do to make it back to the Series. Their bats are coming back to life and Jose Quintana was the shot in the arm the rotation needed.

But if they had to make a move, it might be worth going back to the rotation. John Lackey has been a great pitcher for a long time, but age is catching up to him. His ERA is the second highest it has ever been and his strikeouts are down. While he has said he would not move to the bullpen, it may end up being that or getting let go.

The Cubs have one prospect in the top 100, Jeimer Candelario (3B/1B). Would they be willing to give him up? From the looks of things, they could. He plays two positions that are taken up by the two biggest stars in Bryant and Rizzo. With that in mind, Sonny Gray will be the guy they go for.

The A’s are selling everyone, again. Thus, they will take the best prospects they can get and see who pans out. The trade will be Sonny Gray to the Cubs for Candelario, Oscar De La Cruz (RHP), Justin Steele (LHP) and a prospect outside of the Cubs’ top 30.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Courtesy of: Outsidepitchmlb.com

This team has been on an unreal tear. They look primed for October and we still have around 62 games left. They are up by 12.5 games and even with the injury to Clayton Kershaw, they will still keep that big lead.

One thing that has hurt the Dodgers has been injuries. Scott Kazmir, Branden McCarthy and Clayton Kershaw are all missing from the rotation. They need someone to fill this hole now. The great thing for Dodgers fans is unlike the Cubs, they still have plenty of prospects to trade. That is why they will get Yu Darvish.

If you are a team in a five-game series and you have to go up against Clayton Kershaw, Yu Darvish and Alex Wood, then you are most likely sitting in a corner crying.

Even going to a seven-game series like the World Series you might think, phew we got through those three, now we get a break– nope. Rich Hill, a healthy (hopefully) Scott Kazmir or Kenta Maeda could all come in for at least one game.

Yu Darvish to the Dodgers for Walker Buehler (RHP), Willie Calhoun (2B/OF), Mitchell White (RHP) and DJ Peters (OF) could be a trade the Dodgers make. While the Dodgers are giving up a ton, they are also giving themselves a great chance at a World Series run.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed my take on the trade deadline. The trade deadline is a very interesting time for baseball. Hopefully this year will produce the craziness we have seen in the past.

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With week six of the Major-League Baseball season in the books, it is time to resume our fantasy baseball 2017 weekly update. We will continue to notify owners about which players are hot, or cold, and whether they will remain trending in that direction. Previous weekly fantasy baseball updates can be found at thegamehaus.com/fantasy.

Who’s Hot

Yonder Alonso has reinvented himself in 2017. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

Yonder Alonso, First Baseman, Oakland Athletics

Last seven: .292 BA, 6 R, 6 HR, 10 RBI

Not many were talking about Alonso prior to the season’s start, although the former first-round pick in 2008 has completely reinvented himself. The 30-year-old has already surpassed his career high home run total in only 34 games.

Alonso’s success can be attributed to a change in his launch angle, as he has increased his fly ball rate from 34 percent to a menacing 53 percent. This modification in approach has completely changed who Alonso is as a player, as he has transformed from a mediocre offensive first basemen, to premiere power threat.

Alonso’s success in 2017 has been masterful, although his home run to fly ball ratio is at an unsustainable 29 percent. This means that his home run pace is sure to slow down, as over 1/4 of his fly balls are leaving the park. Also, the fact that Alonso plays for the struggling Athletics makes him a prime sell high candidate before his performance plateaus.

A.J. Griffin has been phenomenal since undergoing Tommy John Surgery. (Photo by MLB.com)

A.J. Griffin, Starting Pitcher, Texas Rangers

Last three: 3-0 W-L, 0.45 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 20 IP, 19/3 K/BB

Griffin had struggled to make his way back to mound after under-going Tommy John surgery in 2014, as it wasn’t until 2016 when he finally reentered a starting rotation.

The 29-year-old has won four of his first five starts for the Rangers in 2017, and has some fairly incredible ratios.

Unfortunately, Griffin’s BABIP is sitting at .200, and his xFIP at 4.25, which both suggest that his success this season will be short lived. He has only surpassed the six-inning mark once so far this season, which, in his defense, occurred in a complete game shut-out against the San Diego Padres. Like Alonso, Griffin is a prime sell high candidate, as regression must be expected.

Aaron Altherr is breaking-out in 2017. (Photo by Press of Atlantic City)

Aaron Altherr, Outfielder, Philadelphia Phillies

Last seven: .346 BA, 5 R, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 1 SB

The German international has been a part of the Phillies organization since 2009. His career marks in the minor-leagues are fairly under whelming, as he sports a .263 batting average and .738 OPS.

Altherr has surprised many in 2017, as he has earned himself an everyday role in the Phillies outfield. He primarily is playing in left field, although he has also played four games in center and ten in right.

The 26-year-old is currently batting .338, with a career high seven home runs in only 26 games. Altherr’s power does not seem sustainable whatsoever, as his home run to fly ball ratio is at an insane 35 percent, which is about 15 percent higher than his career average. Also, Altherr’s groundball to fly ball ratio of 1.15 is well below his career average of 1.50, which may suggest that his ability to hit fly balls is fluky.

Even without power, Altherr will remain a solid fantasy option, as he bats in the heart of the Phillies order, and offers solid stolen base and run potential.

Alex Wood has filled in great for an abundance of injured Dodger pitchers. (Photo by the Los Angeles Times)

Alex Wood, Starting Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Last three: 3-0 W-L, 2.25 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 16 IP, 29/3 K/BB

Wood began the season in the Dodgers’ bullpen, although found himself in a rotational spot after a slew of injuries occurred; including ones to Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir, and Kenta Maeda.

Wood has been masterful of late, having a 16.31 K/9 in his last three starts. The knock-on the 26-year-old is his ability to eat innings, as the Dodgers have kept him limited to six innings of work or less in every start.

He will likely be moved back to the bullpen once the Dodger’s rotation regains their health, although he will still hold value in deeper mixed leagues, as he will be able to vulture wins and earn holds.

Who’s Cold

Khris Davis was off to a hot start in 2017, but has cooled off significantly. (Photo by Ben Margot, AP).

Khris Davis, Outfielder, Oakland Athletics

Last seven: .103 BA, 1 R, 0 HR, 1 RBI

The Athletics’ slugger was off to a red hot start in 2017, as he had amassed 10 home runs and 17 RBI in his first 23 games. Since then, Davis has been ice cold.

One red flag for the 29-year-old are his strikeout totals, although this is not abnormal for a power hitter. Another red flag is his declining fly ball rate, which is very discouraging for a power hitter.

These trends are worrisome, although Davis clearly still has the power potential to be an elite fantasy asset, as he mashed 42 bombs just last season. His struggles shouldn’t last long, as he currently has a .243 BABIP, which suggests that Davis’ is getting unlucky with balls batted in play. I would suggest to hold onto the slugger for the time being, as his production will resume.

Matt Harvey has been a disaster so far in 2017. (Photo by MLB.com)

Matt Harvey, Starting Pitcher, New York Mets

Last three: 0-3 W-L, 10.43 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, 14 2/3 IP, 9/13 K/BB

Harvey has been surrounded by question marks since the beginning of the season, as he was originally recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) surgery that occurred in 2016.

Now, the 28-year-old faces a multitude of other obstacles, including a team suspension and off the field personal issues.

Harvey was suspended by the Mets for reportedly failing to follow team protocol. According to SI.com, he failed to notify the team about his absence after a night of drinking and a mourning of golf, which resulted in a migraine.

Also, Harvey has been dealing with rumors about his super model ex-girlfriend, Adriana Lima, reconnecting with her professional football playing ex-boyfriend, Julian Edelman, at a club in New York. Reports say that Harvey believed Lima and himself were in a serious relationship, although conflicting reports suggest that Lima never believed their relationship was serious.

As much as I may feel bad for the man, Harvey has been all over the place in 2017. He is walking batters, and allowing home runs, at almost double his career rates. Also, his strikeout rate has been cut in half compared to his career strikeout rate, which shows that he is not fully recovered from his TOS surgery.

Harvey’s potential has not dissipated yet, although his struggles have been severe and reoccurring. I would try to move Harvey as soon as possible, as I believe his best days could be behind him.

Steven Souza Jr.’s recent struggles may be due to him being hit by a pitch in the hand in late April. (Photo by TBO.com)

Steven Souza Jr., Outfielder, Tampa Bay Rays

Last seven: .083 BA, 0 R, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Souza Jr. began 2017 on the right foot, as he was batting .330 after the first month. Although, he has considerably cooled off, as his batting average has dropped to .268 since May 1st.

Souza Jr. was hit in the hand by a pitch on April 28th, which may be the reason for his recent struggles, as he has zero home runs and only two RBI since.

The 28-year-old’s success in the minor-leagues has not yet transferred to the majors, as he had batted .305 and .345 in 2013 and 2014 respectively for the Washington Nationals.

After being acquired by the Rays in a monster three team deal, which included Wil Myers and Trea Turner, Souza Jr. has yet to make a significant impact.

The third-round pick has never played over 120 games in a single season and has only a career high of 17 home runs. Souza Jr. remains an average fantasy commodity because of his lineup position and power potential, although he is too inconsonant and injury prone to be penciled in as an everyday fantasy player in 2017.

Robert Gsellman’s Major-League success has been short lived. (Photo by Elite Sports New York)

Robert Gsellman, Starting Pitcher, New York Mets

Last three: 2-1 W-L, 8.36 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 14 IP, 5/4 K/BB

The Mets struggles have continued, as injuries and inconsistent pitching have riddled their clubhouse. Injuries to Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard have opened up a full-time rotation spot for Gsellman, who has struggled mightily to begin 2017.

The 23-year-old had found great success in his six minor-league seasons, as he sports a career 3.11 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 6.5 K/9. Unfortunately for Gsellman, his success in the majors has been short lived.

In 2016, he made seven starts, which resulted in a 4-2 record, 2.42 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 8.5 K/9. So far in 2017, the 13th-round pick has allowed 28 earned runs, 51 hits, and 13 walks in only 35 2/3 innings pitched.

The only sign that Gsellman’s struggles may continue is his poor xFIP of 4.17, which is considered well below average according to fangraphs.com. Although, I personally expect Gsellman to improve, as his BABIP is an exorbitant .368, his home run to fly ball rate is an astronomical 19 percent, and his left on base percentage is a mere 56 percent. Hold on to the young arm, as he can only go up from here.

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The Dodgers are showing that some teams don’t have to make it all the way into the middle of the season to have their roster depth tested. The Dodgers suffered another injury to a big-name on the team on Friday, when Andre Ethier fractured his right tibia when he fouled a ball off of it.

This preseason has been an absolute disaster, injury-wise, for the Dodgers. Last year, the Dodgers made it to the postseason with a 92-70 record before falling to the eventual National League champs, New York Mets, in the divisional round. Currently, Los Angeles is riding a 7-game losing streak to sit at 10-10 in spring 2016.

Ethier is just one of the many injuries the Dodgers have sustained to this point. Ethier is entering his 11th year in the MLB, all with the Dodgers, with whom he has hit .286 with 159 home runs and 682 RBI in his career. He hit .294 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI last season to help the Dodgers on their postseason run.

Clayton Kershaw gave Dodgers fans a scare this Friday when he got into a car crash in Arizona (with two Angels fans no doubt). But that didn’t stop him from taking the chance to grab some selfies. Photo courtesy of sports.yahoo.com

Along with Ethier, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw gave every Dodger fan a heart attack on Friday when he was involved in a car collision on Friday in Phoenix. Luckily, no one was seriously injured in the crash, but Kershaw then took a foul ball off the leg on Sunday. It seems that neither of these have presented serious injuries to the Dodgers ace, but has found a way to keep things interesting for Dodgers fans despite seven straight losses. Kershaw went 16-7 with a 2.43 ERA in 33 starts for the Dodgers last season. He has been a staple in LA since his arrival in 2008, putting up sub-3.00 ERA seasons in every year after his rookie season.

Kershaw’s friend in the rotation, Brett Anderson, was not so lucky this preseason. Anderson will miss the first three to five weeks of the season with back issues. Anderson is entering his second year with the Dodgers, after pitching a number of seasons with Oakland. Anderson went 10-9 with a 3.69 ERA in 31 starts with LA last season.

Not only have the Dodgers faced a number of new injuries over the course of Spring Training, they also have a number of players that are recovering from off-season procedures of injuries. On the offensive side of things, Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick, Yasmani Grandal, Enrique Hernandez, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, and Scott Van Slyke are all coming off of some form of injury or procedure coming into 2016. While the majority of them should be alright, it should be noted that some of these players aren’t as young as they used to be, and these procedures and injuries may have a lasting impact on how much longer they can remain healthy, not only this season, but for the rest of their careers. Gonzalez in particular will be 34 this May. Grandal is still expected to start on Thursday’s game, according to manager Dave Roberts, but is still undergoing tests concerning forearm soreness experienced in last week’s match-up.

The pitching staff woes don’t stop at Anderson and Kershaw, either. Alex Wood, Brandon Beachy, and Hyun-Jin Ryu are all coming off of off-season work as well. Ryu should be expected to see work in late May to early June, after his recovery regimen was pushed back slightly this spring.

The positive to all of this is, the Dodgers had been stockpiling depth all off-season, so this will not impact them as hard initially. Come June, when most of this roster should be back together, the Dodgers should have at least a semblance of understanding as to how this season will go. Right now, it’s hard to say if this depth stockpile will be enough to get this Dodgers team into the mid-season with a fighting chance, but I think it would be foolhardy to cross them out this early on, especially so long as their ace Kershaw and young stud Yasiel Puig remain healthy.